Drilling barge



March 11, 1952 L, SMITH 2,589,153

DRILLING BARGE Filed 001:. 27, 1947 VEN OR.

BY 5% ($.M (R046 a m A TTORNE Y5 L c 7 a3, 30 3 g. 3 AL N ZQ .SMnH

Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE DRILLING BARGE Alonzo L. Smith, Houston, Tex.

Application October 27, 1947, Serial No. 782,375

9 Claims.

The invention relates to a drilling barge and in particular to a drilling barge which is constructed to be floated to a predetermined location and then submerged to facilitate the drilling of a subaqueous well.

An object of the present invention is to provide a drilling barge with drilling equipment thereon which may be floated to a predetermined location over a submerged area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drilling submergible barge which is constructed to be filoated to a predetermined location over a submerged area and then submerged onto the area, thereby providing a support surface for the drilling equipment carried by the barge.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a drilling barge which is constructed to be submerged at a predetermined location in a body of water anchor flaps secured to the barge, such flaps normally being in an inoperative position while the barge is being moved to the location.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a drilling barge which is arranged to be sub-. merged in a body of water at a predetermined location, anchor fiaps which are normally retained in an inoperative position during the movement of the barge from one location to another, but which anchor flaps are movable to rest on the submerged surface after the barge has been positioned thereon to anchor the barge in position on the location while a well is drilled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well drilling barge with anchor flaps to anchor the barge on a location in a submerged area, the flaps being movable after the barge has been lowered onto a submerged area to rest adjacent the barge on such submerged area.

Another object of the invention is to provid; a well drilling barge with anchorflaps, the flaps being movable after the barge has been lowered onto a submerged area to anchor the barge on such submerged area to keep it from shifting with the tides and currents while a well is being drilled, therebeing means adjacent the upper and lower surfaces of such anchor flaps to remove any accumulation of sediment therefrom to facilitate the raising of such flaps after the well has been completed.

Another object is to surround a drilling'barge with a floating and anchored barrier wall to prevent pollution of water areas with oil and debris.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drilling barge with drilling equipment supported thereon, such barge being constructed.- to be submerged at a'predetermined point in a water 2 covered area, and anchor fiaps'associated with the barge and movable to anchor the submerged barge by the sedimentary deposition of material onto the flaps.

A still further object of the invention is to anchor a barge on a submerged area by anchor flaps which are pivotally connected to the barge and movable to embed in and on the submerged surface adjacent the submerged barge.

The invention also comprehends a submergible barge having drilling apparatus supported thereon which can be floated to various locations in a water covered area and then submerged and anchored in position by anchor flaps which are pivotally secured to the barge and movable to anchor on the submerged surface adjacent the barge, therebeing means adjacent the upper and lower surfaces of the anchor flaps for removing sedimentary material therefrom whereby the flaps may be raised after the well is completed.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view showing a barge floating in water constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic top plan view showing the barge and the relation of the anchor flaps when in lowered position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the barge submerged and retained against wave and water movement by the anchor flaps in lowered position adjacent the barge on the submerged area.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the detail construction of a form of the barrier wall.

In Fig. 1 is a drilling barge is illustrated at 2 and is shown as having drilling equipment 3 supported thereon. Any suitable construction of a barge may be used in practicing the invention with minor modifications as described hereinafter.

The barge 2 has the main deck 5 and the end bulkheads 6 and is provided with a substantially flat surface I on its bottom so that the barge will seat firmly when submerged in a water covered area.

Arranged adjacent each of the end bulkheads 6 and the sides of the barge B is a flap anchor 9. This flap anchor may be of any suitable construction and is preferably formed of sheet metal or the like. The thickness thereof is suilicient so as to. make the flaps heavy enough to give additional anchorage to the barge after it has been submerged. The flap anchors 9 may be secured. by any suitable means to the barge and are shown as being secured adjacent the bottom surface thereof by the hinges I0. Engaged with the upper end of the flap anchors 9 is a line I I mounted upon the cat head or winch l3 by which the flap anchors may be raised and lowered.

Secured through each of the end bulkheads B and through the sides of the barge 8 adjacent the upper surface I and the lower surface is of each of the flap anchors 9 is a plurality of jet pipes l1 and I8 respectively. Connected to the jet pipes I! and I8 are hoses which'are in turn connected to a pump 2| which is a part of the drilling equipment. The pump 2| is arranged to take a suction on the surrounding body of waterwhereby it is forced through the pump 2| andhoses 20 to be discharged out the jet pipes l1 and H3. The force of the discharged water displaces -sedimentary deposits off the upper surface [5 and it .will'break the vacuum'existing between .the lower surface I6 and the submerged area. This vacuum between the flaps and the submerged surface helps to position the barge on such surface and :nauses the'fiaps to tend to adhere to the surface.

"when in lowered position.

'Arranged in the bottom of the barge 2 is a plurality of openings'23 which have the-valves 24 thereon operableby the hand wheel 26 on the main deck'5 to admit water into the interior of the barge 2 when it is desired to submerge it. By opening' the valves 24, water passes therethrough and into the barge displacing the air therefrom, thereby ca-usingthe barge to submerge and rest one/submerged area 30 as shown in Fig. 3.

A bey 3! is provided in the bottom of the drilling barge whereby the drill stem 32 may be lowend through the casing 33 and into the submerged surface.

In the operation of the invention the barge is towed or it may be self-propelled to the desired location in a water covered area at which it is desired to drill a well. The valves 24 are opened by the hand wheels 26 whereby water is admitted into the barge 2. A plurality of openings 23 and valves '24 are provided in the barge so that when all of the valves are opened water is entering into the barge at a plurality of spaced points so that the water fills all of the barge uniformly, thereby sinking the barge on an even keel. After the barge has been submerged upon the submerged area'30, the valves 24 maybe closed and the flap anchors 9 lowered by any suitable power means connected to the winch or cat head i 3.

Due to the weight of the barge it will settle into the subsurface 30' as shown in Fig. 3. The 'flap anchors 9, when lowered into position on the subsurface 30', tend to sink thereinto, thereby displacing all air between the submerged area 30 and the lower surface [6 of the flap anchors. As the tides and currents shift a sedimentary deposition will accumulate as at 33 on the upper surface l5 of the flap anchors 9. Therefore, not only do the flap anchors 9 present a greater sup port surface for the drilling equipment on the maindec'k 5 thereof, but due to the accumulation of the sedimentary deposits thereon, the :flap anchors become imbedded in the subsurface 3ll', thereby anchoring the barge 2 in position on the location by the weight of the accumulation and by creating a vacuum between the lower surface 16 and submerged area 30.

"As shown in Fig. 4 a plurality of floats 40 are arranged to carry a'length of canvas 4| extending downwardly and upwardly therefrom and ":are

positioned about the barge a spaced distance therefrom so as to encircle it while at the same time providing an area about the barge in which debris and oil may collect during the drilling of the well. A lead weight 42 on the bottom of the canvas serves to retain it in position in the water, while the arm 43 extending above the surface of the water supports the upwardly extending length of canvas. Any debris or oil 45 floating on the water :38 will be retained within the canvas or barrier which surrounds the barge as illustrated in Fig. 2. Pollution of the surrounding body of water 38 by chemicals and oil from the Well while it is'being drilled is therefore lessened thereby inhibiting damage to marine plants and life.

The trapped oil and debris may be withdrawn from the area in which it is confined after the well is completed by securing a pipe or base to the pum 2| and emptying the oil into containers aboard the barge. Floating debric may be collected bysany 'suitabletmeans such as grappling ho'oks-orthelike.

The drill pipe 32..is then lowered from the'derrick 35 by standarddrilling equipment mounted on the deck 5 of the barge through the casing 33 and into the submerged surface. .The. drilling operation is continued until the well iscompleted. The barge with the supported drillingequipment thereon is then ready to be moved to a new location.

-Pump 2| which has been used during .the progress of the drilling as a part of the drilling equipment is then connected to the jet pipes l1 and I8 through theihose 20. Water from the surrounding area is then pumped down through the lines 20 and out through the jet pipes I1 and [8. The liquid passing outwardly through the pipe 11 clears thetopsurface l5 of the flap anchors 9"0ff the accumulated deposits, while at the same timethe*fluid-supplied to the pipe l8 clears the accumulation 'awayfrom the nether surfaces 16 of'the flap anchors 9 which breaks the vacuum existing betweensuch surface and the subsurface 30.

"Thefiap anchors are then raised to an inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1 by the winch l3 and line I I. The pump 2| is then connected to the pipe 31 which extends downwardly into the barge 2. The fluid 38 which has been admitted into the barge 2 to submerge it is then drawn upwardly through the pipe 31 and ejected.

After a quantity of water 38 has been removed from the barge '2, its buoyant forces will float it asshown in Fig. 1. The barge can then be movedto a new location and submerged to begin drilling-operations.

It is to be noted that during movement of the barge from one location -to another, the flap anchors9 "are retained closely adjacent the sides and end bulkheads of the barge 2, so that'they wil1lbe out of the way and not interfere with the movement of the barge from one location to another.

The Jdrilling equipment and other equipment on the main deck 5 thereof are positioned so that the-barge will retain an even keel while it is being moved in the water 38.

. Broadly "the invention contemplates .a drilling bargewhich is submergible at predetermined locationsina water covered area and which is providedwith flap anchors normally retained in an inuperative position. during transit of the barge,

, but' which are movable to anchor the barge after .ithas beenpositionedon the location.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for drilling subaqueous wells comprising, a submergible barge, drilling equipment supported thereon, said barge having a bottom adapted to rest on a submerged surface, means for submerging said barge by admitting water thereinto, and anchor means associated with said barge arranged to be lowered on the submerged surface and to adhere thereto when said barge is positioned thereon said anchor means including flaps pivotally secured to the sides of said barge to pivot outwardly therefrom to rest on bottom when the barge is submerged.

2. Apparatus 'for drilling subaqueous wells comprising, a submergible barge, drilling equipment supported thereon, said barge having a substantially flat bottom adapted to rest on a submerged surface, valve means for submerging said barge by admitting water thereinto, flaps pivotally secured to each side of said barge adjacent the bottom thereof, means for lowering said flaps onto the submerged surface when said barge is submerged to anchor it in position.

3. Apparatus for drilling subaqueous wells comprising, a submergible barge, drilling equipment supported thereon, said barge having a substantially flat bottom adapted to rest on a submerged surface, valve means for submerging said barge by admitting water thereinto, flaps pivotally secured to the sides of said barge adiacent the bottom thereof, means for lowering said flaps onto the submerged surface when said barge is submerged to anchor it in position, and jet means adjacent the top and bottom surface of said flaps to remove accumulated dirt from adjacent such surfaces and to release the vacuum between said flaps and submerged area to facilitate the raising of said flaps.

4. Apparatus for drilling subaqueous wells comprising, a submergible barge, drilling equipment supported thereon, said barge having a adjacent such surface to facilitate the raising of said flaps, said submerging means being operable to trap the admitted water in said barge whereby it may be removed therefrom to float said barge and supported drilling equipment.

5. In a submergible barge arranged to be positioned on a submerged surface for drilling subaqueous wells the combination including, flap anchor means pivotally connected to the sides of said barge, said anchor means normally being in close relation to the sides of said barge but movable to rest on such submerged surface to anchor said barge on the surface by forming a vacuum between said flaps and the submerging surface whereby said anchors adhere to such surface.

6. In a submergible barge arranged to be positioned on a submerged surface for drilling subaqueous wells the combination including, anchor flaps pivotally secured to said barge, valve means for submerging said barge by admitting water thereinto, and means to lower said anchor flaps to imbed on the submerged surface adjacent said barge, said anchor flaps positioning said barge on the submerged surface by creating a suction with such surface and collecting sedimentary deposits thereon.

7. In a submergible barge arranged to be positioned on a submerged surface for drilling subaqueous wells the combination including, anchor flaps secured to said barge, means for submerging said barge by admitting water thereinto, means to lower said anchor flaps to rest on the submerged surface adjacent said barge and additional means adjacent the upper and lower surface of said anchor flaps to remove sedimentary accumulation therefrom whereby they may be raised when drilling operations are completed.

8. In a drilling barge for positioning on a submerged area for drilling subaqueous wells the combination including, anchor flaps pivoted on the sides of said barge movable to rest on the submerged area, and means to remove sedimentary accumulation from adjacent said flaps to facilitate the raising thereof after the completion of the well.

9. In a drilling barge for positioning on a submerged area for drilling subaqueous wells the combination including, anchor flap means pivotally secured on the sides of said barge and movable to rest on the submerged area whereby said barge is anchored in position by the deposition of sedimentary material on said means and additional means for removing the sedimentary material to facilitate the raisin of said means and the subsequent floating of said barge.

ALONZO L. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Giliasso Aug. 21, 1928 Number 

